Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-04-30
A DISGRAt EFUL ALLIANCE.
REPUTABLE LOUISVILLE CITIZENS
JOIN HANDS WITH HOODLUMS


lice Guard the Jail Surrounded by |
Howling Rioters-several Attacks of
the Turbulent Citizens Repulsed with
Few Casualties.
LOUISVILLE, KY, April So This city was
in turmoil OF excitement all day Friday,
and the streets in the neighborhood of the
Jail were flied with crowds of excited men
anxious to take the law into their own hands
in the cases of Turner and Patterson, Jenny
Bowman's assailants. Between and 4
o'clock in the morning another attempt was
made to force the Jail, and hand to-hand
fight with the police ensued, but the mob
was soon driven off and several of the lea1ers
arrested. Strange TO say these leaders proved
to be wellknown business and professional
men, one being Allen Mcdonald, principal
of the Rugby school, and another j. NJ.
Latterly, a representative in the legislature.
Twenty of them were arraigned in court
during the day on charges Of riot, and their
attorney put i'll the plea that, rs they were
prominent cltzans,' the cases should be
dropped To this the judge answered that
their prominence made their oifense more
discreditable to them and the city, and re-
fused to dismiss the cases.
A telegram from Judge jackson, of the
circuit court, was sent to Governor Knott
stating that there was danger of domestic
violence and blooished unless the militia was
called out and that a crisis was imminent
Friday night
The widest excitement was occasioned at
l p m by the ringing of tire-bells, and the
report spread with the speed of the wind that
the mob and police we're engaged IN desper-
ate fight This proved TO be mistake the
bells having been rung without proper orders
by some excited individuals. There was no
violence during the day
At 6l5 p. N. T. was bulietlued at the news
paper offices that Miss Bowman was dead.
This announcement greatly intensified the
| feeling of Indignation already existing The
news quickly spread, and although the an
nouncement of the girls death was authori-
| tatively denied the influence of the first ru.
NOR could not be counteracted At7p m
the attending physician reported that Miss
Bowman was gradually sinking, and that
death would probably enSue before mid
night.
At noon the preconcerted signal, eleven
taps on the city hall bell. called the militia
TO assemble at their armory. Not over one
| third of them responded, and uniformed pa
| troll detachments were sent out to bring in
the delinquents. Probably two-thirds of
the Louisville Legion were at p. m. under
arms at the armory. Adjt. Gen Castleman
| in addressing the troops sai You are
only to obey orders, not to act hastily nor
rashly, and Use as little force as possible in
| executing commands"
Friday evening it was noticed that the
color line was being drawn, TIE negroes ap-
pearing to be apprehensIve of mob violence,
and gathering by themselves on The street
corners in the negro quarters of the city
The fact of a possibility of an attempt to ex-
ecute threats made to wipe OUT some of tue
| the most notorious negro dives and their in
mates, vas thought to have Influenced the
calling out OF the militia The hoodlum and
non-working white class concentrated in the
| vicinity of the jail square in such force that
good grounds existed Tor apprehension of
| general riot, in case the efforts Of the lynch
ers should be successful. Practically all of
| police force were concentrated at the Jail
and city hall, and part of the fire depart
ment were held in readiness to respond as a
police auxiliary If called upon.
At s p. IN. crowd IN line paradei the
| streets, bearing a Transparency with the
words: "One thousand men wanted to assist
in lynchmc Patterson and Turner" At
every block their numbers were increased.
The crowd in the streets leading to the jail
was very large, and they were beginning to
press upon tile police GORDON, thrown out 100
rlt.a oft he'll W.
An attempt was made at o'clock to send
out the fire engine from an engine house ad-
| joining the jau in order to open lane in
the dense crowds sufficient to give the police
foothnld, when an effort would he made to
extend the police lines. The attempt was
failure, the crowd refusing to yield
At $50 Judge Jackson, of the circuit court
| drove IN n coupe to the inside police line and
addressed the crowd telling them that tue
courts We're able to punish the offenders, and
that the author les would at all hazards pro
tect the prisoners He asked the crowd to
disperse
He had not concluded when opportunity
| was taken Of the temporary relaxation Of 30
| lice vigilance, and rush was made for the
jail A sharp struggle eusued, but although
| the police lines were forced back they held
the mob at bay. During the melee Police
Lieutenant M.Gsath was hit on the head
with brick and seriously injured. Judge
Jackson's carriage disappeared in the direc-
ton of the armory.
Governor Knott and staff arrived from
| Frankfort at I 81 o'clock.
| Immediately after judge .Jacksons arrival
at the armory five companies of the Legion
and light infantry were sent to the cityshall
| Strong picket lines were posted across all
| approaches to the jail, and a Calling gun
| placed position, ready for instant use, in
| front of the jail building; three companies of
militia being held in reserve at the armory
/ The police, notwithstanding the strong mill
tary support, made no attempt to dispense
the mob, being satisfied 10 maintain their
| position.
Impromptu Indignation meetings were
held at different points, the hoollum ele.
ment ralying at saloons beyond the reach of
| possible police sortIes.
AT i2;lJ a. m. an attack was made on the
| Jefferson street lines. the mob being armed
with pistols, clubs, IRON bars, etc. As they
| came on with a rush several pistol shots were
| fired from the crowd. The police, sup
| ported by a company of militia, again
proved too strong for the attacking force,
and the mob was forced back. Fifty police
! charged upon them. In the struggle which
| followed several Of the crowd were tram
| pied upon and many heads broken. Three
of the officers We're severely hurt. Forty
| prisoners were added to the already over
| crowded station house as a result of the
| sortie
At 80 a IN. there was no change in the
| situation.
of Interest TO Commercial People.